Austin Area Homeschoolers
Newcomers' Guide
Orientation Information for Parents Who Are New to Homeschooling and Parents Who Are New to Homeschooling in the Austin (Texas) Area
The information in this guide is presented for parents to use or to disregard as they choose. Opinions expressed or implied are those of the authors and are not necessarily shared by everyone in the Austin Area Homeschoolers (AAH) support group. AAH as an organization neither endorses nor opposes any particular educational philosophy, method, supplier, service, material, or publisher. Our group serves all types of homeschoolers, without regard to their lifestyles, religions or beliefs, cultures, races, educational backgrounds, political affiliations, economic groups, or family sizes. We support the right of parents to choose whichever methods, philosophies, and materials they determine will best meet the current needs of their own children. While AAH parents believe that we have chosen the best approaches for our own families, we respect conflicting decisions made by other parents. We celebrate our diversity, and we agree to disagree on many subjects. None of the information in this publication should be construed as legal advice.
Article titled "Our NonDirected Support Organization," ©Earl Gary Stevens 1995, 25 Belmeade Road, Portland, Maine 04101. Used by permission.
Remainder of guide © Brenda Hardesty & Paula Pierce 2003, 702 Knollwood Circle, Austin, TX 78746 with Holly Goddard, John Golden, and other AAH parents. Permission is hereby granted for individuals or libraries to photocopy or otherwise duplicate this information without charge for their own use and/or for use in a public or private library. If you wish to duplicate for any other purposes, please contact the copyright holder to obtain permission to reprint.
Table of Contents
5 Welcome to Homeschooling in Austin, Texas
5 Getting Started
7 Top Ten Questions for Newcomers. . .
7 . . .for Parents Considering Homeschooling
8 . . .for Homeschoolers Who Are New to the Area
10 . . .for Parents of Teenagers
12 Start With the Basics
12 Why We Homeschool
12 About Support Groups
14 Austin Area Homeschoolers
14 Monthly Meetings
15 Newcomer Information
15 Newsletter
15 Web Site
15 Directory
15 AAH Email List
15 Library
15 Social Club for Older Homeschoolers
16 Park Days
16 Homeschool Soccer
16 Soccer for Younger Players
16 Chess Club
17 Co-ops
17 Field Trips
17 Annual Not-Back-to-School Party
17 Adopt-a-Highway
18 Cub Scouts
18 Campfire Club
18 T-Shirt Transfers
18 Scholastic Book Club Sales
18 Drama, Fencing, Art, Music, Spanish, and Other Classes
18 AAH Math Club
18 Our NonDirected Support Organization
20 Legal Issues for Texas Homeschoolers
21 Withdrawing Your Child From Public School
21 Sample Letter to School District
22 Homeschooling Laws in Texas
22 Texas Education Code
23 Leeper Case
23 Excerpt From Lower Court Judgment in Leeper Case
24 Ruling by the Texas Supreme Court on the Leeper Case
24 Letter from the Texas Education Commissioner
25 Sources for Further Information on Homeschooling Laws
26 Austin's Day-Time Curfew for Teens and the Homeschooler I.D. Card
29 Curriculum Issues
29 Educational Philosophies
30 Learning Styles
30 How to Choose a Curriculum
31 Curriculum Guides and Reviews
32 Local Sources for Curriculum
33 Record Keeping
33 Transcripts and College Admissions
33 Suggested Schedule for the College Admissions Process
34 College Concerns and Ideas
35 College Board Web Site
35 Applications
36 Transcripts
36 Entrance Exams
36 Beginning College Work Early
37 G.E.D. Tests and Classes
37 Resources
37 Umbrella Schools
38 Correspondence Schools
39 Recommended Reading for Parents
40 Kids' Newspapers and Magazines
40 Sources for Standardized Tests
40 Online Resources
41 Miscellaneous AustinArea Resources
41 Austin Area Stores and Discounts
43 Words of Wisdom From AAH Parents
47 Appendix A: Maps to Parks That Are Frequently Used for AAH Park Days
49 Appendix B: Homeschooling Catalogs
Online Sources for Used Curriculum
Welcome to Homeschooling in Austin, Texas
Welcome to homeschooling! Whether you are considering homeschooling for the first time or are an experienced homeschooler new to Austin, this guide will help you get started. After you review this information, feel free to contact an AAH parent or visit one of our activities to ask questions you might have. Homeschoolers in our support group are glad to share their information and experiences.
As you begin, remember this advice from an AAH parent: "The first thing I became aware of was that once I jumped into homeschooling, there was not going to be anyone there to take my hand and lead my way. (Thank goodness for that!) It was very scary and it made me really consider just how committed to homeschooling I was willing to be. As a product of the "system," it was hard at first not to have that "need" to be told what to do. Then I realized that was what homeschooling was all about. I was going to have to find my own way through the maze of information, fear, judgments, curricula, styles of learning and teaching, and friends' and family's opinions. I also figured out pretty quickly that there wouldn't be one clear-cut way for me to homeschool. It is a constantly changing and evolving process for us. I've learned that the support group is a great resource, but it's not there to teach me how to be a homeschooler."
Getting Started
First, take a deep breath and relax! You certainly don’t have to do everything immediately. If it helps, declare a school holiday while you get oriented. This is legitimate, since homeschoolers don’t have to follow the same calendar that the local schools use. If you don’t want to declare a holiday, just make sure your children have interesting and worthwhile reading materials and activities available. It is not necessary to cover all the school subjects each and every day.
Many children need "down time" when they first leave formal schooling. They might not know what they are interested in studying, or they might be resistant to studying anything. This is a common experience that homeschoolers call “decompression.” You can visit with experienced homeschoolers to get ideas for how to cope during such a time. The A to Z Home’s Cool website (http://www.gomilpitas.com/homeschooling/) has many articles on issues encountered by new homeschoolers. The Teenage Liberation Handbook, by Grace Llewellyn, suggests ideas for learning in ways that are completely different from traditional schoolwork; some of these approaches might be more interesting for a burned-out student.
As you get started homeschooling in the Austin, Texas area, you will want to:
(1) Read the Austin Area Homeschoolers Newcomers' Guide. (This is the publication you are now reading.) If you borrowed this guide or if you are reading this text on the Internet, you might want your own copy. Please try to make your own photocopy of this guide, since we are not making a profit.You can view and download the guide at www.geocities.com/austinareahomeschoolers. If you do not have access to a printer or copy machine, you can receive one by mail by sending $5 to reimburse us for our photocopying and postage. Make your check or money order payable to Paula Pierce, and mail it to 702 Knollwood Circle, Austin, TX 78746.
(2) Read Home Education Magazine’s Homeschooling Information and Resource Guide. You can obtain a copy from Home Education Magazine, PO Box 1083, Tonasket, WA 98855-1083, http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
(3) Choose a support group that is right for your family, and subscribe to the group newsletter. See the section on "Austin Area Homeschoolers: Newsletter" for details on how to receive the AAH newsletter by email. The newsletter contains a calendar of AAH events, announcements, book reviews, and articles of interest to homeschoolers.
(4) Join the AAH email list, (if you have Internet access) by following the instructions at
http://www.homefries.8m.com/aah.html
(5) Hang onto your money until you have done a little research to see the broad range of options you have. Resist the temptation to rush out and buy that complete, easy-to-use curriculum that you saw in an advertisement. The curriculum will still be available a few weeks from now if you decide you really want it!
(6) Read books about homeschooling. See the section on "Recommended Reading for Parents" for ideas. The Austin Public Library system carries a multitude of books on homeschooling. There are many different approaches to homeschooling, so you might want to read several books to find a style that fits your family’s needs. Good places to start are Homeschooling for Excellence, by David and Micki Colfax, and John Holt's books.
(7) Subscribe to a homeschooling magazine or two, perhaps these. Unlike many national homeschooling publications, these two do not promote or assume any particular religious beliefs.
Austin Area Homeschoolers Newcomers' Guide, September 2003
page 17
Growing Without Schooling
2269 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 021401226
www.holtgws.com
Home Education Magazine
PO Box 1083
Tonasket WA, 98855-1083
www.home-ed-magazine.com
Austin Area Homeschoolers Newcomers' Guide, September 2003
page 17
(8) Read the Handbook for Texas Homeschoolers. The Austin Public Library carries this. You can order your own by contacting Texas Home School Coalition, PO Box 6982, Lubbock, TX 79493. (Their website is: www.thsc.org) This book contains information on Texas law, homeschool attorneys, support groups, umbrella schools, and how to get started. This publication has a fundamentalist Christian viewpoint, but it contains information useful to any homeschooler.
(9) Visit homeschooling events and talk to experienced parents to get support and information.
The Top Ten Questions for Newcomers
Most newcomers are dying to find the answers to a few specific questions. To save you the anxiety of reading this entire publication, wondering when we are going to address your concerns, here are short answers to the most frequently asked questions.
The Top Ten Questions for Parents Considering Homeschooling
(1) Is it legal? Yes! See "Homeschooling Laws in Texas" for details of the relevant Texas laws.
(2) Where do I get the curriculum? In Texas, parents can choose any curriculum, as long as it teaches the basic subjects. You can purchase packaged curriculum, or you can design your own. See "Curriculum Issues" for more information.
(3) What about socialization? Children don't have to go to school to learn appropriate social skills. Many homeschooling parents believe that children learn more appropriate social skills in mixed-age groups than in the artificial, agesegregated environment of most schools. A common observation among homeschooling families is that their active social schedule encroaches on their study time! For details about social opportunities offered by the AAH support group, see the section titled, "Austin Area Homeschoolers." There are myriad books and articles addressing the socialization issue. The A to Z Home’s Cool website (http://www.gomilpitas.com/homeschooling/index.htm) is a good place to start.
(4) How much does it cost to homeschool? The cost varies depending on the materials and activities chosen by the family. (See the section on "Curriculum Choices" for information about available options.) The most expensive type of homeschooling is a fullservice correspondence school that offers teacher assistance; such schools can cost $250$1200 per year. Parents who purchase a commercially prepared curriculum covering all subjects can pay $200 or more per year. Some parents purchase new or used materials for some subjects and develop their own curriculum for other subjects. For low-cost homeschooling, parents borrow books from public libraries as the core of their curriculum. Homeschooling is generally less expensive than private school tuition. For many families, the biggest cost of homeschooling is the income that they sacrifice to enable at least one parent to stay home with the children. Depending on the ages and personalities of your children and the flexibility of work schedules, it is possible for a twocareer couple or single, working parent to homeschool.
(5) How on earth do I get started? First, read this entire publication. Second, decide which support groups best fit your family, and subscribe to their newsletters. Third, read a few books on homeschooling. Fourth, visit some homeschool activities, where you will find experienced homeschooling parents who will be glad to share their experiences with you.
(6) How do I withdraw my child from public school? Don’t worry, it isn’t complicated! See the section in this guide on "Withdrawing Your Child From Public School."
(7) How can we homeschool with ______[a baby and toddler in the house, two working parents, an unsupportive ex-spouse, etc.]? New homeschoolers can get tips on any of these issues by simply asking other homeschoolers to share their experiences. Visit an AAH park day, soccer day, or monthly parents' meeting to talk to experienced homeschoolers. Subscribe to the AAH-discuss email list, where such questions are welcome. See the section on "Austin Area Homeschoolers" for information on these resources.
(8) How do I find other homeschoolers? Join a support group and start attending the group activities. If you live in Austin or the surrounding area, see the section on "Austin Area Homeschoolers" for a list of some our group opportunities.
(9) I don’t live in the Austin, Texas area. How do I find a support group in my area? See the section "Support Groups" for ways to find existing groups. If there is no group in your city, or if you don’t like the way your local group operates, start one! Until you can find or develop a local support group, you can get help from national publications like Home Education Magazine and Growing Without Schooling (See "Recommended Reading for Parents"), or you can join a national or statewide email list. (See "Online Resources").
(10) Don’t people have to be a little bit crazy to try homeschooling? Not at all! Come visit some homeschool activities to see how truly sane we are!
Austin Area Homeschoolers Newcomers' Guide, September 2003
page 17
The Top Ten Questions for Homeschoolers Who Are New to the Austin Area
Experienced homeschoolers who move into the Austin area are often excited to see the wide range of activities available here. Here is some information to help you get oriented.
(1) What are the laws in Texas? It is easy to comply with the homeschooling laws in Texas. Homeschools are private schools. You do not need to register with any state or local officials. You do not have to have your child tested. See the section on "Homeschooling Laws in Texas."